Display case humidifier



Dec. 16, 1947.

F. ELKINSl DISPLAY CASE HUMIDIFIER Filed OGt. 25, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR..

BY FRANK ELKINS A'H'orneg Dec; 16, 194'7.

F. ELKINS DISPLAY CASE HUMIDIFIER Filed Oct. 25, 1945 Y v le 9 \8 o o 2oe@ .2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

FRANK EL-KINS Patented Dec. 16," 1947 UNITED STATES PATENTy OFFICEDISPLAY CASE HUMIDIFIER Frank Elkins, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application October 25, 1945, Serial No. 624,479

3 Claims. l

lThis invention relates to display cases for cigars and the like andmore particularly to an improved means for maintaining the interior ofthe case in a humid state necessary ior preserving in proper conditionthe cigars or other such goods displayed in the case.

Among the principal objects of the present invention isto provide asimple and inexpensive humidifying system for display cases which isadapted for ready and convenient installation therein, which isrelatively inconspicuous and occupies a minimum of space in the case andwhich insures uniform and constant distribution of moisture throughoutthe interior of the case.

More particularly, it is a further object of the present invention toprovide a humidifier for display cases which is constructed of simplepipe sections adapted to be cut into suitable lengths and assembled tofit within the interior of cigar cases of any size and shape, theassembled sections providing for a wide distribution of moisture derivedfrom water introduced into the pipe system, as desired, at a singleconvenient point.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparenthereinafter, it beingunderstood that the present invention consistssubstantially in the combination, construction, location and relativearrangement of parts, all as described in detail hereinafter, as shownin the accompanying drawings and as finally pointed out in the appendedclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, which are illustrative of a preferredembodiment of the present invention,

Figure l is a perspective view showing the humidier of the presentinvention installed within a display case such as is conventionally usedfor displaying cigars;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of a part of a humidifying system asviewed upwardly from the horizontal plane of the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view showing the component elements of one section of thehumidifying system;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view of a corner connection between apair of sections as taken on the line 4--4 of Figure l;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 5-5 oi Figure 1;and

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Figure 1 thereof,it will be observed that the humidiiier apparatus of the presentinvention, as installed within the display case I0, essentially consistsof a system of interconnected humidifying conduits II, I2, i3 and I4commonly disposed in a substantially horizontal plane adjacent the topof the case, the conduits being supported in their elevated position bya plurality of vertically extending standards I5 respectively disposedin the several corners of the display case. It will be understood, ofcourse, thatl the interconnected humidifying conduits may be of anyrequired number to provide a shape to the assembly which correspondsgenerally to the shape of the case. Thus, while in the arrangement asillustrated, four such conduits are assembled into substantiallyrectangular form, any other polygonal form may be obtained by employingthe requisite number of interconnected conduits, the present inventionbeing not limited, of course, to the shape of the conduit system.

Each of the humidiiying conduits of the system consists of threeseparate elements as shown in Figure 3, namely, an outer member I6 oitubular form slotted along its entire length, as at I1, an inner tubularmember I8 provided along one side thereof with a series oflongitudinally spaced apertures I 9, and an intermediate pad 20 ofporous material, such as sponge rubber, felt or water absorbentmaterial. Each of the outer members I6 is provided at its opposite endswith annular flanges 2l, while each of the inner members i3 is likewiseprovided at its opposite extremities with anges 22, it being noted thatfor each conduit assembly the inner perforated member I8 is somewhatlonger than its associated outer slotted member I6, this for a purposewhich will be apparent hereinafter.

In the assembly of the associated elements I6, I8 and 2U, as shown mostclearly in Figures 2 and 6, the member I6 is disposed with itslongitudinally extending sloi-l I'I presently downwardly and inlongitudinal registry with the perforations I9 of the inner member I8,the water absorbent pad 20 being interposed between the concentricallyarranged tubular members I6 and I8 in the region of the registering slotI 1 and perforations I9.

Adjoining assemblies of the elements I6, I8 and 2li are secured togetherby suitable corner fittings 23 generally in the shape of elbows havingopposite externally threaded ends 24--24 adapted respectively to be ttedwith flanged clamping rings 25 embracing opposite ends of each assembly.As most clearly appears in Figures 2 and 4, the ange 26 of the clampingring 25 engages the end flange ofthe external slotted member I5 of theconduit assembly and `draws it toward the end of the elbow fitting 23when the clamping ring is threaded onto the latter. Suitable washers 21and 28 are respectively interposed between the flanges 2| and 22 of theconcentric members I6 and I8 and between the flange 22 and the elbow, inconsequence of which a secure joint is obtained between the assembledparts to insure free and continuous communication throughout the fullcircuit of the interconnected internal apertured members I8. Thus, waterpassing through the fittings 23 can only ow into the interior of themembers I8 for discharge therefrom downwardly by way of the perforationsI9 to thereby moisten the pads 20 disposed between the perforations I9and the bottom slots I'I of the external members I6.

It will be understood, of course, that the humidifying system consistingof the several interconnected assemblies of the elements I6, I8 and 2II-provides a continuous circuit for the now of water through the interiorsof the interconnected perforated members I8 with the result that theseveral water absorbent pads of the system are constantly and uniformlymoistened by the water discharged through the perforations I9. Theseuniformly moistened pads 20 then give up the moisture accumulatedtherein through the slots Il of the members I6, these slots being insuch free communication with the interior of the display case as toprovide for constant wide-spread and uniform humidification of itsinterior.

In order to provide the :conduit system with its necessary supply ofwater, any one or more of the elbow fittings 23 may be provided in itstop side with an opening 29 through which water may be delivered intothe system in suicient quantity and at periodic intervals, as required,to maintain the several pads 20 in thoroughly moistened condition.Preferably, in order to facilitate such introduction of water into thesystem, the opening 29 may be internally threaded for acceptance of afunnel element 30.

To support the interconnected sections of the conduit system in desiredelevated position with.. in the display case, it is preferred to employstandards, such as l5, the upper ends of which are threadedly fittedinto suitable sockets 3l formed in the bottom sides of each of the elbowfittings 23. Of course, any other suitable arrangement may be employedfor supporting the system in position within the display case.

It will be understood, of course, that the present invention issusceptible of various changes which may be made from time to timewithout departing from the general principles or real spirit thereof,and it is accordingly intended to claim the same broadly as well asspecifically as indicated by the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

1. A display case humidier comprising a, continuous conduit systemincluding a plurality of interconnected sections each including a pairof concentric tubular members and a water absorbent pad disposed'between' and extending lengthwise of said members along the bottomsides thereof, the inner of said members being provided with a series oflongitudinally spaced apertures in registry with a longitudinallyextending slot formed in the bottom of the outer of said members.

2. A display case humidifier as dei-ined in claim l wherein the severalsections of said system are disposed in a common horizontal plane case.

3. A display case humidifier comprising a, system of interconnectedconduits for distributing moisture throughout the interior of a displaycase, said system including a plurality of interconnected tubularmembers perforated longitudinally along their bottom sides, a waterabsorbent element covering said perforated portions of each tubularmember, means for securing said water absorbent elements in coveringrelation with respect to said perforated portions of said tubularmembers, said means providing free escape of moisture from said elementsinto the interior of said display case, said last-mentioned meansincluding longitudinally slotted tubular elements concentricallyarranged about said perforated tubular member with the longitudinalslots thereof disposed exteriorly of the water absorbent elements and inregistry with the perforations of said tubular members.

FRANK ELKINS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 443,781 Moore Dec. 30, 1890949,430 Herbrick Feb. 15, 1910 648,263 Hull Apr. 24, 1900 489,033Proctor Jan. 3, 1893

